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Think that everyone's Samsung Galaxy S4 is the same as yours... Think again!
#1.1. There are currently 29 models of the Samsung Galaxy S4 phone.

Most of which are covered in this General Galaxy S4 forum.

Some of these models have already had as many as 12 different stock Samsung Android firmware releases since launch.

So, you can see that when you take into account the different locations worldwide and those locations unbranded and carrier branded firmwares, there is no such thing as one Samsung Galaxy S4 and one Jelly Bean or KitKat firmware but rather, 29 different phones with, currently, over 3,000 different variations of firmware for Android 4.2.2, Android 4.3, Android 4.4.2, Android 4.4.3, Android 4.4.4 and Android 5.0.

You will see, the two main Samsung Galaxy S4 models are the global International, GT-i9505, quad core and the International, GT-i9500, octa core, models with the other minority variants based on these. These variants all have different versions of the stock Samsung firmware that the International models run on and may have features removed, added or amended as well as carrier add-on's, sometimes referred to as "carrier bloatware".

To locate your current firmware version, (not baseband/modem), go to the dial pad and type in...

*#1234#

This will give you your, "Version", details in full, usually 3 lines of information which are all relevant. The important one to note in this case is the first, "AP:", (a.k.a PDA), detail. This is important because, as previously mentioned, some models have had a number of updates and improvements to their original firmware.***

*** If code *#1234# has been disabled on your firmware, you can download and install, free from the Play Store, Phone Info and it will give you, under Firmware Info... PDA, Baseband, CSC, versions. It also has the added advantage of showing your Product code.

For instance, someone with a Samsung Galaxy S4, SCH-R970 on firmware R970VXUAMDL will be running a very different firmware and hardware to a Samsung Galaxy S4, GT-i9500 on firmware i9500UBUFNB3. The former is a quad core phone on the US Cellular, CDMA, network on an early, MDL, April 2013, Jelly Bean release and the latter is an octa core phone for Trinidad and Tobago on the, currently, latest, NB3, March 2014, KitKat firmware with no 4G/LTE.

Also, the CSC, (Customer Software Customisation), code, which dictates the customisations for your location/region/carrier. The 3 letter code comes directly after the model version shown in #1.2 above. For instance... CSC: I9505ZTOFNB3 for the International I9505 non carrier branded model for Brazil or CSC: R970USCFNAE for the US Cellular model SCH-R970.

Therefore, it is always useful to ascertain the model of phone and firmware as some problems may only occur with certain models or versions of firmware and may not apply across the board to all Samsung Galaxy S4 models and firmwares. Also, a firmware update may have been released that corrects a problem.

Tip: It is a good idea to make a note of your full firmware details in case you ever need to manually re-install your firmware without voiding your warranty.

#1.3.1. Samsung releases are categorised as follows:-

M = year = 2013 (13th letter of alphabet)

E = Month of year (May in this case, 5th letter of the alphabet)

A = Build of that month (10th for, "A", as they start 1-9 first, before letters)

#1.4.Your device's current firmware version is not supported to update firmware via kies

This indicates a mismatch with your CSC, (Consumer Software Customisation) code, see #1.3 to obtain this. This can happen for a number of reasons.

You will not be able to receive an update via Kies, the Samsung PC Suite, if you are rooted, on a custom ROM or have flashed a stock Samsung firmware with a different CSC code not originally intended for your phone, and may receive the message,"YOUR DEVICE'S CURRENT FIRMWARE VERSION IS NOT SUPPORTED TO UPDATE FIRMWARE VIA KIES" or "YOUR DEVICE DOES NOT SUPPORT SOFTWARE UPGRADING VIA KIES", depending on your version of Kies .

It has also emerged that sometimes vendors have been flashing phones with a different stock Samsung firmware prior to sale in an attempt to sell to a wider market and therefore upgrades via Kies are not possible. There are also reports that people who have had their phones repaired at a Service Point and re-flashed with different firmware are unable to receive updates via Kies.

Provided that your phone has never been rooted, unlocked, flashed or altered by you in any way, then the best advice is to take it to a Samsung Service Point and ask them to update the firmware for you.

#1.5. Alternatively, if available for your phone model number, you can download a stock Samsung firmware of your choice and flash this via a PC suite called Odin3 v3.09.If your current firmware is Knox enabled, Android 4.3 onwards, you cannot downgrade to 4.2.2 or from 4.4.2 to 4.3.
This is for competent users and could void your warranty by flashing any firmware other than that intended for your original CSC code, see #1.3 above, as well as preventing future updates through Kies or Over The Air, (OTA).
.

#1.6.TIP

If you are a poster it is a good idea to mention your model number and firmware version in case this has a bearing on your problem.

Better still, if you have 25+ posts, you can go to the black bar at the top of this forum and click on your Username, which will show a drop down menu. Just select, "Signature", and you can enter in the signature box the details of your phone, i.e. - "Galaxy S4 i9505". This ensures that your device details are shown in every post you make. You can update this as often as you like and will help other users immediately identify your phone and firmware.

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I have updated post #1 to reflect the release of 5... yes... 5, more Galaxy S4 variants. Thus bringing the total to 23 different models!

My favourite poster is the one with a specific model or firmware related question and does not include any of the information in post #1 and requires a Q&A session before their query can be addressed. Therefore, to save time and trouble, I now have a stock reply for this, as follows in the next post. Feel free to copy and paste or refer to it, if needed...

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There are currently 29 different models of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and over 3,000 different stock Samsung firmware versions, worldwide, covering 6 different Android platforms, Android 4.2.2, Android 4.3, Android 4.4.2, Android 4.4.3, Android 4.4.4 and Android 5.0.1. Not all issues will affect all models or firmware releases and your answers to the following questions will help in the forum's answers to your specific query.

#1 Could you post your Model number and Android version...

To locate these, go to...

Settings > More > About device > Model number and Android version

This will give you the model of Samsung Galaxy S4 that you have and which Android version you are on.

#2. Your current Firmware, (not just Baseband), version .

To locate your current firmware version, go to the stock, Samsung, dial pad and type in...

*#1234#

This will give you your, "Version", details in full, usually 3 lines of information, AP: CP: CSC:, which may all be relevant.

*** If code *#1234# has been disabled on your firmware, you can download and install, free from the Play Store, Phone Info and it will give you, under Firmware Info... PDA, Baseband, CSC, versions.

#3. Also helpful would be your carrier, (service provider), location, (UK, India, Russia, USA, etc: ), and if your phone is rooted or not and running a custom ROM, (give details).

Thanks. The above helps us to help you and hopefully someone will be able to reply to you shortly.

(TIP If you are a poster it is a good idea to mention your model number and firmware version in case this has a bearing on your problem.

Better still, if you have 25+ posts, you can go to the black bar at the top of this forum and click on your Username, which will show a drop down menu. Just select, "Signature", and you can enter in the signature box the details of your phone, i.e. - "Galaxy S4 i9505". This ensures that your device details are shown in every post you make. You can update this as often as you like and will help other users immediately identify your phone and firmware.

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My service provider is U. S. Cellular. My version of Android is 4.3. Before the upgrade, I was able to access the codes using *#????#* but those codes no longer work. Is this something done by US Cell?

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My service provider is U. S. Cellular. My version of Android is 4.3. Before the upgrade, I was able to access the codes using *#????#* but those codes no longer work. Is this something done by US Cell?

My service provider is U. S. Cellular. My version of Android is 4.3. Before the upgrade, I was able to access the codes using *#????#* but those codes no longer work. Is this something done by US Cell?

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Nov 12, 2011

Very good guide. Although I think your link for the firmware download is a scam. I went there today and the "free" download was to take 12+ hours but if you want to pay lol what a scam shame on you for that

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Very good guild. Although I think your link for the firmware download is a scam. I went there today and the "free" download was to take 12+ hours but if you want to pay lol what a scam shame on you for that

Click to expand...

I am showing under 2 hours on my PC for the 1.5GB stock firmware I am now downloading. I have posted another, hopefully faster, SamMobile link in post #1. Samsung Updates Live and SamMobile are stock links for the free download of Samsung firmware and are used all over this forum and the web in general!

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Very good guild. Although I think your link for the firmware download is a scam. I went there today and the "free" download was to take 12+ hours but if you want to pay lol what a scam shame on you for that

Click to expand...

Ironass is unquestionably the most helpful and selfless member on this forum, without whom this place would be a duller, way less informed place. Many members on here, myself included, have benefited immensely from his wise and educated input to these forums.

To insinuate he is posting links for possible personal gain is utterly ludicrous and quite frankly insulting.

It wouldn't be a bad idea if you were to retract that mis-judged comment.

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I di d not mean anything bad to the op If it sounded like that I apologize I do think the site that the link goes to is a scam only because they make you click a bunch of buttons and try every time to get you to pay money.
I am sorry if you were offended by my post and apologize to you also.
And to the OP thanks for addressing this issue.
Again no harm was directed at anyone except the website the link went to.

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I am new to forums in general so please forgive me. I been using a Samsung galaxy S4 for a year now with the following details
AP: 19500XXUAMDK
CP: 19500XXUAMDK
CSC: 19500OJVAMDk
Android version: 4.2.2
Device status: Official

I bought the phone in Oman and I have done software update once in Egypt. However when I try to upgrade my firmware kies writes "your device's current firmware is not supported to update firmware via Kies". What do you recommend. Thank you for your time

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I am new to forums in general so please forgive me. I been using a Samsung galaxy S4 for a year now with the following details
AP: 19500XXUAMDK
CP: 19500XXUAMDK
CSC: 19500OJVAMDk
Android version: 4.2.2
Device status: Official

Click to expand...

That is the old Android 4.2.2 firmware. There has been an update to 4.3 but no KitKat update yet.

I bought the phone in Oman and I have done software update once in Egypt. However when I try to upgrade my firmware kies writes "your device's current firmware is not supported to update firmware via Kies".

Click to expand...

See #1.4 in post #1, entitled... "Your device's current firmware version is not supported to update firmware via kies"